The University of South Florida, also known as USF is a member institution of the State University System of Florida and a public research university located in Tampa, Florida, USA. Founded in 1956, USF is the fourth-largest public university in the state of Florida, with a total enrollment of 47,646 as of the 2012–2013 academic year. The USF system comprises three institutions: USF Tampa, USF St. Petersburg and USF Sarasota-Manatee. Each institution is separately accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The university is home to 14 colleges, offering over 80 undergraduate majors and more than 130 graduate, specialist, and doctoral-level degree programs.

USF is classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in the top tier of research universities, and is among three other universities in Florida to hold this highest level of classification. In its 2011 ranking, the Intellectual Property Owners Association placed USF 10th among all universities worldwide in the number of US patents granted. The university has an annual budget of $1.5 billion and an annual economic impact of over $3.7 billion. In a ranking compiled by the National Science Foundation, USF has the 50th-highest research expenditure in the United States and in the state of Florida only trails the University of Florida.

USF ranks in the top 100 best public schools in the 2012 Best Colleges edition of U.S. News & World Report. In 2012, the university was also ranked eighth among "up and coming" universities by U.S. News & World Report. USF was named a national leader in online education by Guide to Online Schools. USF graduate level programs – including Public Health, Library and Information Studies, Education, and Criminology – continue to rank among the nation''s 50 best in the U.S. News & World Report graduate school rankings.

USF was the first independent state university conceived, planned, and built during the 20th century. Former U.S. Representative Sam Gibbons was instrumental in the school''s creation when he was a state representative and is considered by many to be the "Father of USF." Though founded in 1956, the university was not officially named until the following year, and courses did not begin until 1960. The university was built off Fowler Avenue on the site of Henderson Air Field, a World War II airstrip. Before Henderson Field, the area was part of the 1920s 5000 acre temple orange grove, the largest citrus grove in the world at the time, which gave the nearby City of Temple Terrace its name. In 1957, the Florida Cabinet approved the name "University of South Florida." At the time, USF was the southernmost university in the state university system. In 1962, the official USF mascot was unveiled as the "Golden Brahman." In the late 1980s, the mascot evolved into the "Bulls."

The university grew under the leadership of John Allen, who served as its first president from 1957 until his retirement in 1970. During this time, the university expanded rapidly, due in part to the first master''s degree programs commencing in 1964. Allen was known for his opposition to college sports in favor of an environment more academically-centered. Allen''s ultimate legacy was to be the first person to build a modern state university from scratch: "As a completely new and separate institution, the University of South Florida became the first new institution of its kind to be conceived, planned and built in the United States in the 20th century." Today the John and Grace Allen Administration Building, named after the university''s founding president and his wife, houses vital Tampa campus departments including Student Affairs, the Admissions Welcome Center, and the Controller''s Office.

In 1970, M. Cecil Mackey became the university''s second president. During his time at USF, Mackey opened the university''s medical school, School of Nursing, and first-ever Ph.D.program. Additionally, Mackey worked to strengthen the St. Petersburg campus, while opening new satellite campuses in Sarasota and Fort Myers. While serving as university president, Mackey continued to teach economics courses in a conference room across from his office. Mackey first coined a new descriptor for USF: "a metropolitan university." The term is still used to describe USF today.

USF emerged as a major research institution during the 1980s under the leadership of the university''s third president John Lott Brown. During his tenure, the USF Graduate School was established in 1980. In 1986, Brown oversaw the opening of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute on the USF Tampa campus. USF became the first university in the nation to offer a Ph.D. in applied anthropology and the first in the State University System of Florida to offer a degree program in women''s studies. In January 1988, USF Lakeland opened.

On February 15, 1988, Francis T. Borkowski was inaugurated as the university''s fourth president. He served as president for five years, laying the groundwork for the university''s football program, establishing on-campus housing for the USF president at the Lifsey House, and merging several colleges into the College of Arts and Sciences.

Betty Castor became the university''s fifth president and first female president when she was inaugurated in January 1994. She served as USF president for six years until 1999. During this time, USF grew to be one of the largest universities in the nation in terms of enrollment. The Florida Board of Regents named USF a "Research 1" University in 1998. In 1997, the university began its inaugural season of NCAA football. Two years later, the Herd of Thunder marching band debuted. In 2006, Castor returned to USF to lead the Dr. Kiran C. Patel Center for Global Solutions. Castor stepped down from her position as director in 2009.

The university is currently led by its sixth president, Dr. Judy Genshaft, who took office in July 2000. She also serves as the president of the USF System. Under Genshaft''s leadership, the university has emerged as a top research university and major economic engine with an annual economic impact of $3.7 billion. The university has expanded its global reach, with the opening of the first Confucius Institute in Florida in 2008 and the creation of the Genshaft/Greenbaum Passport Scholarship Fund in 2011, which provides financial support to USF students who want to study abroad. Under Genshaft, USF has continuously been ranked among the top veteran friendly universities in the country. In 2009, USF became the first university in the nation to partner with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to offer specialized services for veterans taking advantage of the new G.I. Bill. USF continues to improve academically, being ranked among the best colleges in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. In 2012, USF was recognized as one of the nation''s largest producers of Fulbright Program scholars.

USF System

The University of South Florida System includes three member institutions: USF Tampa, USF St. Petersburg, and USF Sarasota-Manatee. Each institution is separately accredited, has a distinct mission, and its own strategic plans. The USF System once included two other satellite campuses, one in Fort Myers and the other in Lakeland. The Fort Myers campus opened in 1974 and closed in 2007, with the debut of Florida Gulf Coast University. The Lakeland campus opened in 1988 and split off from the USF System in 2012 to become the independent Florida Polytechnic University.

Leadership

The USF System is a member institution of the State University System of Florida (SUS), which is overseen by the Florida Board of Governors. Each SUS member institution, including USF, has a 13-member decision-making body called the Board of Trustees (BOT). The USF BOT appoints the USF System President, who in turn appoints the Regional Chancellors of the member institutions. The USF System is currently led by President and Chief Executive Officer Judy Genshaft, who was appointed by the USF Board of Trustees in 2000.

Established in 1956, the USF Tampa campus serves more than 41,000 students. It is composed of the main campus in Tampa, USF Health, and the College of Marine Science in St. Petersburg. The institution houses 14 colleges and is the doctoral granting campus of the USF System.

St. Petersburg Campus Main article: University of South Florida St. Petersburg

USF first occupied the site of the USF St. Petersburg in 1965. In 2006, USFSP was accredited as a separate entity within the University of South Florida System by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools starting with the 2006–07 academic year. USFSP serves approximately 4,500 students and offers 33 undergraduate and graduate programs in arts and sciences, business, and education.

Sarasota-Manatee Campus Main article: University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee

When USF Sarasota-Manatee was established in 1975, it originally shared a campus with the New College of Florida. New College and USFSM continued to share campuses until a new campus was built for USFSM in 2006. Nearly 2,000 students take classes at USFSM each year. The university offers 43 academic programs and certificates in arts and sciences, business, education, and hospitality and technology leadership.

The USF Tampa campus offers more than 80 undergraduate majors and 130 graduate, specialist, and doctoral degree programs under 14 colleges. USF offers academic courses year-round. The USF academic calendar is based on a semester system, with three academic semesters each year. The academic year begins in the fall, running from August to December. The spring semester generally begins in January and ends in late April or early May. The summer semester is broken down into three overlapping sessions – A, B, and C – that generally span either six or ten weeks.

Student Profile

More than 41,000 students were enrolled at the USF Tampa campus in the 2012-13 academic year, including approximately 30,000 undergraduate students, 8,500 graduate students, 550 doctor of medicine students, and 1,500 non-degree seeking students. USF is one of the 40 most diverse universities in the nation, with students representing every state, U.S. territory, and more than 130 countries. International students represent approximately five percent of the USF student population. As of the Fall 2012 semester, the student diversity profile of the university consisted of: 60 percent White, 11 percent African American, 17 percent Hispanic, 7 percent Asian/Pacific Islander, 1 percent American Indian, 2 percent two or more races, and 2 percent of students did not report.

The Fall 2012 Freshman class of approximately 4,000 students earned admission to the university with an average SAT score of 1209 (reading and math only), ACT score of 27, and high school GPA of 3.94. More than half of the members of the incoming class graduated in the top 20 percent of their high school class. Among the incoming class were 24 National Merit Scholars, four National Achievement Scholars, and 15 National Hispanic Scholars.

CollegesCollege of Business building.

Colleges at the USF Tampa campus include:

The Natural and Environmental Sciences building.

College of Arts and Sciences

College of Behavioral & Community Sciences

College of Business

College of Education

College of Engineering

College of Global Sustainability

College of Graduate Studies

Honors College

College of Marine Science

College of Medicine

College of Nursing

College of Pharmacy

College of Public Health

College of The Arts

Innovative Education

Faculty

There are more than 1,500 faculty at the USF Tampa campus. As of Fall 2011, the student to faculty ratio for the USF Tampa campus was 27:1. Approximately 86 percent of full-time faculty members hold terminal degrees in their field of expertise. Additionally, the university has more than 1,200 adjunct professors, 300 post-doctoral appointees, over 2,000 graduate assistants, and 2,600 student assistants. USF faculty continue to be recognized on the global academic stage with over 35 scholars receiving prominent scholarly awards since 2009, including Fulbright, National Science Foundation, AAAS, Guggenheim, and National Endowment for the Humanities fellowships. In 2012, a USF professor was one of four in the nation to receive the prestigious Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and Council for Advancement and Support of Education 2012 U.S. Professor of the Year award.

Graduation

The first USF Commencement ceremony was held in 1963 where 325 degrees were conferred. In the 2012–2013 academic year, the USF Tampa campus awarded more than 10,500 degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Commencement ceremonies are held three times a year at the end of the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Spring ceremonies are generally the largest, with five separate ceremonies held each semester. Ceremonies for the USF Tampa campus are held in the USF Sun Dome. Additionally, the university livestreams each ceremony for out-of-town guests to watch online.

Libraries

The USF Tampa Library is the largest and most comprehensive library in the USF System. In addition to providing students access to more than 2 million academic journals, databases, and books, the six-story USF Tampa library offers tutoring and writing services, laptop and iPad checkouts, a career resource center, and reservable group study rooms. The USF Tampa Library also houses several Special and Digital Collections, including literature, oral histories, photographs, artifacts, and the university archives. In 2012, the USF Tampa Library opened the Science, Math and Research Technology (SMART) Lab, a hands-on learning space which includes more than 300 computer work stations. In 2013, USF students successfully protested to keep the library open 24 hours a day/5 days a week during the Fall and Spring semesters.

In addition to the Tampa library, the USF System has two regional libraries and two special libraries. The regional libraries include the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library, located on the USF St. Petersburg campus, and the Jane Bancroft Cook Library, located on the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus. The special libraries include the Shimberg Health Sciences Library, which serves USF Health, and the Florida Mental Health Institute Research Library. Both special libraries are located on the USF Tampa campus.

Research

USF is one of the fastest growing research universities in the nation, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. In the 2010-2011 fiscal year, the university was awarded more than $400 million in research awards. The Intellectual Property Owners Association ranked USF among the top ten universities in the world granted U.S. utility patents in 2011.

Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation in Tampa.USF Health

USF Health consists of the Morsani College of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, College of Public Health, the School of Biomedical Sciences, the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, and the USF Physician''s Group. USF Health researchers are breaking ground in the fields of diabetes, Alzheimer''s disease, prosthetics, heart health, genomics, and more. In 2012, the College of Nursing ranked first in Florida for universities receiving research funding from the National Institutes of Health.

More than 400 healthcare professionals at USF Health treat patients throughout the state of Florida. In 2012, the university opened the Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS) in downtown Tampa. The 90,000 square foot facility serves as an education and training center for health professionals around the world.

Sustainability

USF is one of a small number of universities nationwide given a gold rating by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education for building an environmentally-conscious campus. In 2010, the USF School of Global Sustainability was created. In 2012, the new Patel College of Global Sustainability, consisting of the Dr. Kiran C. Patel Center for Global Solutions, the Master of the Arts in Global Sustainability program, and the Office of Sustainability, was introduced. Housed in the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design GOLD certified building on the USF Tampa campus, the college is a holistic academic unit that integrates sustainability research, scholarship, and teaching.

USF signed the American College and University President''s Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) in 2008 and submitted its Climate Action Plan in 2010 with a goal of a 10 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2015. Since then, the university has introduced several sustainability initiatives, including electric vehicle charging stations, water bottle filling stations, reusable plastic food containers in dining halls, recycling programs in residence halls, a biodiesel-fueled fare-free campus bus service, solar-powered golf carts, and more. In 2011, the university introduced the Student Green Energy Fund, which allows students to propose and vote on projects that aim to reduce campus energy consumption, lower green house gas emissions, and promote sustainable technologies.

Engineering buildings at USF.Center for Urban Transportation Research

Founded in 1988, The Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) conducts over $13 million in research annually for a variety of public and private sector sponsors in Florida and the United States, including the Florida Legislature, the Florida Transportation Commission, and state and local governments, agencies, and organizations. Areas of research include public transportation, transportation planning, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), transportation demand management (TDM), transportation economics and finance, geographic information systems, access management, alternative fuels, and transportation safety, among others.

Located next to the College of Engineering on the Tampa Campus, CUTR houses the National Center for Transit Research (NCTR), designated by the U.S. Congress in 1991, and reaffirmed in 1998, 2002, 2012 and 2013. The NCTR was selected as a Tier I University Transportation Center in 2012 in partnership with North Dakota State University, Florida International University, and the University of Illinois-Chicago and in 2013 in partnership with Florida International University, University of Illinois-Chicago, and the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. CUTR also houses the National Bus Rapid Transit Institute, sponsored by the Federal Transit Administration. Through NCTR and NBRTI, CUTR conducts research projects in rapidly growing urban areas to develop innovative, pragmatic approaches that will enable public transportation to better meet the evolving needs of U.S. citizens.

In November 2013, CUTR launched the Automated Vehicle Institute @ CUTR, a multidisciplinary policy and planning program helping communities prepare for and implement automated vehicle technology.

Campus life

The USF Tampa campus provides multiple services and resources necessary for students to succeed both in the classroom and in their personal lives. Under the Division of Student Affairs, USF students have access to involvement opportunities, on-campus housing, dining facilities, recreational outlets, health and wellness services, and more.

USF Marshall Student Center.Student union

The original USF student union was built in 1959 and opened in 1960. Originally called the University Center, it was one of the first five buildings that made up the USF Tampa campus when it opened. In its early years, the University Center held the first on-campus women''s residence hall, a cafeteria, post office, bookstore, game room, television room, and information desk. Classes were held in the basement and first floor of the building until other academic building were completed. The center underwent major renovations from 1988 to 1990. It was renamed the Phyllis P. Marshall Center in 1993, in honor of the woman who served as director of the building from 1976 to 1994.

Marshall Student Center

In order to better serve the growing student population on the Tampa campus, the building was torn down and replaced with a new 230,000 square foot union in 2008. The new facility, now called the Marshall Student Center, still pays homage to its former director. The four-story building features a 1,200 seat ballroom, 700 seat auditorium, 100 workstation computer lab, study and meeting spaces, several student lounge areas, and outdoor courtyards. The facility offers several retail outlets including a pharmacy, computer store, credit union, and identification card center. The building features nine dining options, including the first-ever Beef ‘O’ Brady’s on a college campus.

As the home of the USF Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement, Student Government, the Center for Student Involvement, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, and the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the center is considered to be the gathering place for all things student life at USF.

The Centre Gallery is a student-run art gallery located on the second floor of the Marshall Student Center with a focus on innovative, contemporary art work. The gallery is open to the general public.

Juniper-Poplar Hall.Housing

There are 34 residence halls on the USF Tampa campus, offering traditional, suite, and apartment style housing. In total, these residential halls provide housing to more than 5,600 students. The university also offers specialized housing options such as family housing, female-only housing, graduate student housing, and Greek Village. Each bedroom on the USF Tampa campus is furnished with a twin extra-long bed, dresser, desk and chair, trash can, and closet space for every resident. Each residence hall has at least one resident assistant.

In 2009, the university implemented a new policy requiring all first-year, full-time undergraduate students to live on campus. The goal of the policy is to provide new students with a comprehensive educational experience. Students exempt from this new rule include those who remain living with their parents and/or legal guardians within Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties, are above the age of 21 by the first day of fall classes, have a dependent child or family member, or are married.

The university offers 12 Living Learning Communities (LLCs) in various residence halls throughout the Tampa campus. The residential communities place special interest on academic majors or areas of interest, such as business, education, and sustainability. Residents are required to submit an application and meet certain eligibility criteria to be admitted into an LLC.

In addition to on-campus housing, USF has formal relationships with four off-campus properties. Though the university has no ownership or management role in these entities, it recommends these alternative options on the basis of proximity to the USF Tampa campus and amount of USF students residing there. These properties include Campus Club, The Province, 40 Fifty Lofts, and Avalon Heights.

Dining

There are 24 dining locations of the USF Tampa campus, including several national food brands and three dining halls: Juniper Dining, the Fresh Food Company, and Champion''s Choice. In addition to traditional menus, each dining hall provides special dietary options, including gluten-free, Halal, vegetarian, and vegan selections. The largest concentration of dining facilities is located in the Marshall Student Center, which houses Beef ''O'' Brady''s, Chick-fil-A, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Jamba Juice, Moe''s Southwest Grill, On Top of the Palms, Panda Express, Papa John''s Pizza, and Subway. There are three Starbucks locations on campus — in the library, bookstore, and Juniper-Poplar Hall. USF is also home to the only Ben & Jerry''s shop in the Tampa Bay area.

Campus recreation

The Campus Recreation Center on the USF Tampa campus is a 21,000 square foot, WiFi-enabled fitness facility featuring a two-basketball court gymnasium, six group fitness rooms, an indoor suspended three-lane running track, 120 pieces of cardio equipment, six racquetball courts, and an indoor swimming pool. Inside the facility, members can workout, take group fitness classes, play intramural sports, rent equipment, receive personal training, undergo fitness assessments, and more. In addition to the Campus Recreation Center, there are two remote fitness facilities conveniently located near major residential halls on the USF Tampa campus: Argos Fitness Center and Magnolia Fitness Center.

Through Campus Recreation, the USF Tampa campus offers more than 30 intramural sports throughout the academic year. USF Campus Recreation also maintains the USF Riverfront Park, located two miles away from the Tampa campus. The recreational park is only open for use to USF students, faculty, and staff. Located on the Hillsborough River, the park boat house offers canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boarding. Groups can sign up to climb the 55-foot high ropes course located at the park, which features three levels of challenges. A less challenging version of the ropes course, called the low ropes workshop, allows teams to participate in trust building exercises and group problem solving.

The Outdoor Recreation department of USF Campus Recreation hosts several recreational trips throughout the year. USF students, faculty, and staff can sign up to participate in guided backpacking, tubing, white water rafting, kayaking, and hiking trips both in Florida and throughout the Southeast United States. Outdoor Rec regularly hosts "beach days" during which the department provides transportation to and from nearby beaches including Fort De Soto Park, Clearwater Beach, and Honeymoon Island State Park. Additionally, the department hosts moonlight canoeing trips at USF Riverfront Park four times a semester.

Student involvement

There are more than 600 registered student organizations at USF, including academic, professional, special interest, Greek, and multicultural groups. USF students are welcome to join existing organizations or apply to create their own. The USF Center for Student Involvement, housed in the Marshall Student Center, provides multiple programs that organize student events throughout the academic year, including the University Lecture Series, Homecoming Week, USF Week, and more.

Community engagement

Each year, USF students volunteer more than 150,000 hours of service in local, national, and international communities. The USF Center for Leadership and Engagement provides opportunities for students to volunteer for multiple programs throughout the year. The volunteer programs hold weekly, monthly, or annual events that benefit organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Feeding America, Habitat for Humanity, Shriners Hospitals for Children, All Children''s Hospital, and more. The university''s largest one-day volunteer event, Stampede of Service, sends approximately 3,000 students to volunteer in groups throughout the Tampa Bay region each year.

Fraternity and sorority life

There are more than 40 fraternities and sororities recognized by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life on the USF Tampa campus. Four councils govern these chapters: the Interfraternity Council, the National Pan-Hellenic Council, the Panhellenic Association, and the Unified Greek Council. Greek Village, a residential area on the USF Tampa campus offers housing for members of 13 fraternities and sororities.

Fraternities Sororities

Alpha Epsilon Pi

Alpha Phi Alpha

Alpha Sigma Phi

Chi Phi

Chi Phi Sigma

Delta Chi

Delta Epsilon Psi

Iota Phi Theta

Kappa Alpha Psi

Kappa Sigma

Lambda Theta Phi

Lambda Upsilon Lambda

Phi Beta Sigma

Phi Delta Theta

Pi Delta Psi

Pi Kappa Alpha

Pi Kappa Phi

Sigma Beta Rho

Sigma Chi

Sigma Lambda Beta

Sigma Nu

Sigma Phi Epsilon

Theta Chi

Zeta Beta Tau

Alpha Delta Pi

Alpha Kappa Alpha

Alpha Kappa Delta Phi

Alpha Omicron Pi

Gamma Phi Beta

Chi Omega

Chi Upsilon Sigma

Delta Delta Delta

Delta Gamma

Delta Phi Omega

Delta Sigma Theta

Delta Tau Lambda

Kappa Delta

Lambda Theta Alpha

Mu Sigma Upsilon

Omega Phi Beta

Sigma Delta Tau

Sigma Gamma Rho

Sigma Lambda Gamma

Zeta Phi Beta

Zeta Tau Alpha

USF C.W. Bill Young Hall.ROTC

The USF Tampa campus offers three Reserve Officers'' Training Corps (ROTC) programs: Air Force, Army, and Naval. USF is one of only 38 universities in the nation to offer all three service ROTC programs. The university was the first in the nation to create a Joint Military Leadership Center (JMLC) to house all three programs. Located in the C.W. Bill Young Hall, the JMLC is a 53,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility featuring a weapons simulation room, an outdoor rappelling wall, a joint cadet and midshipmen lounge, three lecture halls, and five classrooms. The building is equipped to handle web-casting, video conferencing, and distance learning.

The university offers three military-related minors at the Tampa campus. The sixteen-credit hour Aerospace Studies Minor provides an understanding of military officer management and leadership concepts, as well as an analysis of the evolution of American defense policy and strategy. The eighteen-credit hour Military Science Minor provides students with an in-depth understanding of Army leadership doctrine and a framework for applying such concepts outside of the classroom. The eighteen-credit hour Naval Science and Leadership Minor places special emphasis on character development and effective communication skills, while providing an understanding of the Naval leadership doctrine and the fundamental principles used by leaders in the Navy and Marine Corps.

Students enrolled in a USF ROTC program have the opportunity to live in the on-campus ROTC Living Learning Community (LLC). Located in the suite-style Maple Hall, the ROTC LLC allows students to be exposed to the customs of each military branch, while developing camaraderie with their fellow cadets and midshipmen.

Student government

The USF Student Government, like all Florida student governments, is an agency of the state created under Florida Statute 1004.26. Student Government, made up of 250 student volunteers and employees, is responsible for advocating for students at the university, local, state and national levels. The Student Senate allocates and expends over $14 million in activity and service fees a year by Florida law. The Student Government is set up much like the federal government and is bound by the Student Body Constitution, student government statutes, university regulations, and applicable law.

The executive administration, headed by the student body president and vice president, oversees several departments and service agencies including SAFE Team, Student Government Computer Services, and Bulls Radio. The student body president also sits on the University Board of Trustees and is a member of the Florida Student Association (FSA).

The Student Senate, headed by the senate president and senate president pro-tempore, creates legislation and allocates and expends activity and service fee funds per Florida Statute 1009.24. The senate has 60 seats that are filled by the 14 colleges. Each college is allotted a certain numbers of seats depending on the size of the college. The Senate carries out its duties mostly through committees.

The student supreme court, headed by the chief justice, hears cases involving students and Student Government and also hears all final parking appeals for students at the USF Tampa campus.

Career Services

Housed in the Student Services building near the center of campus, the University of South Florida Career Services offers support to students and alumni in the process of dreaming, planning, and achieving their career goals. The on-site staff of Career Counselors teach students how to use a strategic approach in planning for a career path and job search. Career Services helps undergraduates self-assess, learn how to conduct career research, seek out experiences that will give you transferable skills, and search for full-time employment or prepare for graduate school. The office also provides similar assistance to graduate students and alumni to break onto the scene in their field of study and assist them in creating a brand for themselves and gain the tools necessary to be a real competitor in the workforce.

Career Services is responsible for a host of networking and professional development opportunities on campus, including career fairs, resume workshops, mock interviews with recruiters from local businesses, professional etiquette dinners, and virtual job searching through Employ-A-Bull. USF Career Services also collaborates with several student organizations such as Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity, Delta Epsilon Iota Academic Honor Society, the American Marketing Association as well as the College of Business to hold on-campus events for the student body throughout the academic year.

University and student media

Beginning in 1961, a local afternoon newspaper, The Tampa Times, covered university news in the one-page weekly "Campus Edition." Now defunct, the newspaper was succeeded by The Oracle. First published in 1966, the weekly broadsheet was distributed every Wednesday. Housed today in the Student Services Building of the Tampa campus, the student-run newspaper is published four times a week during the Fall and Spring semesters and twice a week during the Summer semesters. The 12,000 circulation newspaper has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists and the Associated Collegiate Press for excellence in journalism.

Owned by USF, WUSF (FM) first began airing in 1963. A member station of National Public Radio, the broadcast studio is located on the USF Tampa campus. Currently, the FM station broadcasts NPR and local news during the day and jazz music in the overnight hours. The station is funded by local corporate and private contributors, as well as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and is affiliated with the Public Broadcasting Service. In 2003, WUSF 89.7 became the first public radio station in the nation to broadcast a digital signal. Today, WUSF Public Media offers local and national news coverage, educational programming, and jazz and classical music through WUSF 89.7, WUSF 89.7², WSMR 89.1, WUSF-TV, IntellisMedia, and WUSF New Media.

The student-run radio station at USF, now known as Bulls Radio, first went on the air in 1988. Formerly known as "WBUL" until 2009, the original station broadcast from the Andros building on the Tampa campus. The station has since moved to the Marshall Student Center, where student reporters and DJs broadcast from a studio featuring a window that overlooks the Beef ''O'' Brady''s restaurant. Now one of the largest student-run radio stations in the state of Florida, Bulls Radio can be heard on 1620 AM, 88.5 HD2 or online.

Traditions

The university alma mater was composed by USF professor of music Wayne Hugoboom in 1960. The song was the result of a campus competition, for which Hugoboom won the first-place $250 prize. The alma mater was first used in 1961, and can be heard at the opening of every USF Commencement Ceremony. It is also played by the USF Herd of Thunder marching band before every football game.

"The Bull"Sorry, your browser either has JavaScript disabled or does not have any supported player. You can download the clip or download a player to play the clip in your browser.USF rally cry

Problems playing this file? See media help.

The Golden Brahman March, more commonly known as the USF fight song, is named after the original USF mascot. In 1962, the university chose the mascot the Golden Brahman because of the state''s history in cattle-raising. Though the university mascot has since evolved into the Bulls, the fight song name preserves the history of this USF icon. In 2011, the university athletics department launched a campaign to encourage students, faculty, staff, and fans to memorize the song. Today, incoming students are taught the song, along with other USF cheers, during new student and transfer orientation sessions.

During the Golden Brahman March and other USF songs, fans will circle the "Go Bulls" hand symbol above their heads. Created with the pointer and pinky finger, the gesture was first used as a good luck symbol during free-throw shots at USF basketball games. Today, it is used as a greeting and cheering symbol by USF students and alumni. Often confused by many as the USF fight song, "The Bull" is a rally cry played by the USF Herd of Thunder marching band that encourages fans to stand up and circle the "Go Bulls" hand symbol above their heads.

Alma mater Golden Brahman March

Hail to Thee, our Alma Mater May thy name be told, Where above thy gleaming splendor, Waves the green and gold. Thou our guide in quest for knowledge. Where we all are free University of South Florida, Alma Mater, Hail to thee!Be our guide in truth and wisdom As we onward go, May thy glory, fame and honor Never cease to grow; May our thoughts and prayers be with thee through eternity, University of South Florida, Alma Mater, Hail to thee!

USF Bulls are we, We hold our standard upright and free. For Green and Gold we stand united. Our beacon lighted and noble to see. USF Bulls are we, For USF will always be. With all our might we fight the battle here and now, and we will win the victory! S-O-U-T-H F-L-O-R-I-D-A South Florida, South Florida Go Bulls!

Athletics Main article: South Florida Bulls

USF competed in its first intercollegiate athletic event in 1965, when it defeated the Florida Southern College men''s soccer team. The university was admitted into the NCAA in 1968, and currently competes at the NCAA Division I level. USF was a charter member of the Sun Belt Conference, joined Conference USA in 1995, was admitted into the Big East Conference in 2003, and is currently a member of the American Athletic Conference. There are nearly 500 student-athletes competing for the university each academic year.

TeamsBulls Athletic Logo.

The university currently sponsors 17 varsity men''s and women''s sports, including:

Located on the Tampa campus, the USF Athletic District is the home for Bulls intercollegiate sports. The district includes the Lee Roy Selmon Athletic Center, the Corbett Soccer Stadium, the Frank Morsani Football Practice Complex, the Pam & Les Muma Basketball Practice Center, the USF Sun Dome, The Claw, the USF Baseball Stadium, the USF Softball Stadium, the USF Track & Field Stadium, and the USF Varsity Tennis Courts.

Opened in 2004, the Lee Roy Selmon Athletic Center is the main hub for USF Athletics. In 2012, the facility was dedicated to the late Lee Roy Selmon, a Pro Football Hall of Fame member, former Director of USF Athletics, and the "Father of USF Football.". The 104,000 square foot facility houses all USF sports teams, except for men''s and women''s basketball, sailing, and volleyball. The building features include a large strength and conditioning center, and a sports medicine clinic.

The USF Sun Dome on the Tampa campus is the home facility of the men''s and women''s basketball teams and the women''s volleyball team. The first event held in the facility was a basketball game in 1980. The arena has been the site for other major university events, and a number of outside events, including sports, concerts, and other entertainment events.

The USF football team plays at Raymond James Stadium, home to the professional football team the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, making USF one of only a few American college teams to play in an NFL stadium. Located ten miles away from the USF Tampa campus, the stadium has a capacity of more than 65,000 people.

Spirit squadsUSF Herd of Thunder Marching Band at Raymond James Stadium.See also: University of South Florida Herd of Thunder

The USF Spirit Squads — consisting of the USF Sun Dolls, USF Cheerleading, Rocky the Bull, the USF Herd of Thunder — play an integral role in USF Athletics. In addition to supporting USF varsity athletic teams during sporting events, the spirit squads themselves compete at the national level.

Rocky the Bull first began as a toy idea for the USF Bookstore in 1965. Today''s Rocky was unveiled in 2003. As the official mascot for USF, Rocky the Bull can be seen at USF Athletic events, as well as other major university and community events.

The USF Herd of Thunder consists of several bands, including a 320 member marching band, pep band, show band, winter guard, and indoor drumline. The marching band performs at all home USF football games. The pep band performs at all home USF basketball games. The show band is a 30-piece group that performs at events that are unable to accommodate the full marching band.

Notable people Main article: List of University of South Florida alumni